Home Based Business: Keeping Your Privacy

It’s now very common for small businesses to be started out of the home, and for the home address to be used for the businesses mailing needs. While this may save you time and money, it also has many disadvantages pertaining to privacy, security and unwanted scrutiny. Today we will look at privacy issues with your home based business.

By renting a mail box (not a P.O. Box) from a local company, or an office room in a shared building, you will eliminate the follow problems.

Home Based Business Privacy

Everyone Knows Where You and Your Family Live

There are major issues with offering your personal address and inviting a potential client into your home.

Your client by nature will use your home, cleanliness, car and furniture to make judgments. If your home is too nice, they may feel as though they are overpaying for service. If you home is not up to their particular standards, they may feel you are unqualified.

Whether your future clients find your business on Google, Facebook, Yelp or an online directory site, consider how much personal information you are exposing.

Make Your Business Legitimate and Appear Larger

For some businesses, a mailing address/shared office space on a recognizable street can create the perception of a larger business presence, or a more professional image for your home-based business. Not only will you avoid sales people and prospective clients showing up at your house, but a business address lends your home-based company an additional level of professionalism.

Wasting Too Much Time Waiting For Deliveries

When running a small business, every minute is precious and you don’t always have time to wait for delivery, leaving items exposed on your front step.

Look for a business mailbox/shared office space that offers you a true street address and suite number, like the mailbox rentals available at The UPS Store. With that type of service, your packages can be received, signed for and stored securely until you are ready to pick them up. Some providers will even call you when your packages arrive.

Are You Being Limited by a P.O. Box?

Companies such as UPS or FedEx will not deliver to a P.O. box if a signature is required. If you receive frequent deliveries, it may make sense to rent a business mailbox/shared office space as your shipping address. This may be particularly helpful if you run an online business, where return shipments may be a regular occurrence. Also, P.O. boxes limit your visibility in Google Places, which does not count them as physical locations. It’s important to be found on the internet, because most customers are now using the Internet directories as their only source of information.

Do You Travel Often?

If you travel frequently, a mailbox/shared office space can offer you a physical address in your absence. You can be reassured that your mail and packages are being held until you return. If you are using a mailbox as the primary, then mail forwarding services can even be arranged for your longer trips.

Do You Move Often?

Even if your home address changes, your business address should not. You can have a consistent, long term business address without interrupting your customers’ communications during a personal move or travel.